Peyton Watson Rumors

There are several restricted free agents the Lakers have already done their due diligence on, sources familiar with the team's thinking told ESPN. Two of them, Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons and Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz, would satisfy Doncic's directive to secure an A-list center. Two others, Peyton Watson of the Denver Nuggets and Tari Eason of the Rockets, are the type of 3-and-D archetypes who any team needs in order to succeed in the modern NBA.

ESPN

With the Nuggets determined to retain upcoming restricted free agent Peyton Watson and several teams set to hunt for dynamic forwards and small-ball centers, Gordon is a name to monitor that might become available on the table, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer. "Whether that's Cam Johnson, that's Christian Braun, or Aaron Gordon, it really sounds like that pretty much everyone outside of Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic is going to be discussable for the Nuggets front-office leadership group," Fischer said on Bleacher Report. "I don’t know. Whether or not, the price point would end up be enough for Denver to actually move on from Aaron Gordon but he’s someone that could fit all across the league, in any situations."

BasketNews

There is a growing belief leaguewide that the Nuggets will explore their potential trade options with Christian Braun as well as Cam Johnson in a bid to create financial flexibility for matching offers to restricted free agent Peyton Watson and perhaps further retooling of Nikola Jokić's supporting cast.

marcstein.substack.com

The Nuggets have never been big spenders, which is why the belief around the league is that Cameron Johnson (on an expiring $23 million deal) or Christian Braun (on a five-year, $125 million extension signed in the fall) is likely to be moved to create enough room to give Watson something in the per-year range of those players. One point of potential concern is Watson's recurring hamstring injuries, which cost him a large chunk of the second half. Unfortunately, the injury came right after the best stretch of his career in January and early February.

ESPN

Vinny Benedetto: Asked about the commitment to keeping Peyton Watson in Denver this offseason: Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace didn't say they would match any offer Watson receives but they "hope" he's a Nugget for the foreseeable future.

x.com

One of the Nuggets’ top priorities will be retaining restricted free agent Peyton Watson, and if they do, at least one current starter is almost guaranteed to be sacrificed in a corresponding cost-cutting move. Johnson has been considered the most likely candidate to be traded for months, according to sources, but Gordon and Braun are in the same salary range as him. Denver’s first-round flame-out was disastrous enough that anyone other than Jokic could feasibly be shipped off.

Denver Post

Christian Braun will be entering the first season of a five-year, $125 million deal that, if Denver is honest, likely carries some buyer’s remorse. Braun hasn’t been the same since a November sprain to his left ankle, and right now, it’s not hard to imagine the Nuggets’ brass kicking themselves for offering an extension to Braun, and not Watson, last summer.

New York Times

Vinny Benedetto: Aaron Gordon is questionable for Game 6 with left calf tightness. Peyton Watson remains out. Both players worked out after today's walkthrough.

x.com

Denver, of course, will have the right to match any offer sheet that comes Watson's way. League sources have already identified the Lakers, Bulls and Nets as potential suitors that are likely to have the requisite spending power to present an offer sheet that causes angst in the Rocky Mountains. The Stein Line has learned, in fact, that both the Lakers and Bulls registered trade interest in Watson leading up to the in-season deadline for deals on Feb. 5, although it must be noted that Chicago's front office will soon have a new lead voice after the recent ouster of former Nuggets executive Artūras Karnišovas.

marcstein.substack.com

In my conversations with various teams during the season, I've heard raves for the strides Watson has made as a ballhandler and shot-creator and how he operates in isolation on the perimeter with tangible comfort and poise. Watson himself credits that improvement to a foundation he built during 19 games' worth of valuable reps with Denver's Grand Rapids Gold affiliate in the G League when he was as a rookie. Few players with first-round pedigree would relish such an assignment. Watson?

marcstein.substack.com

Only now he is forced to wait. First for clearance to return to the Nuggets' lineup … assuming they can complete the daunting comeback from 3-1 down to the rival Wolves. And then for restricted free agency to play out come June 30. "It's in the organization’s hands," Watson told me. "I truly feel as though they value me here, but obviously come time to re-sign, everything will come to light." It's quite clear that Watson hopes to remain in Denver and get a chance — now or later — to help the Nuggets hang that second banner.

marcstein.substack.com

Anthony Slater: Aaron Gordon is questionable for Game 5 tomorrow night because of this continued left calf issue. He was clearly limited in his 23 minutes last night. Nuggets will remain without Peyton Watson with their season on the line.

x.com

Vinny Benedetto: Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson were off to the side with trainers when media was let in the gym after today’s practice.

bsky.app

Anthony Slater: Pretty clear how badly the Nuggets miss Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson in this Minnesota matchup. Here is David Adelman on the status of his wings moving forward. Expects more information on status of both tomorrow in regard to Game 4.

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